latourandaisqof flint hill



J. H. LAToURANDAIs'or FLINT HILL, VIRGINIA. I

BEDs'rEAD ronv -IIvvALIDs.

specificati@ of Letters Patent Ne 5,100, dafea'uay 1, 1847.

To all wbom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J. -I-I. LAroURANDA1s, of Flint Hilhin the county of Rappahannock and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements inBedsteadsjor the Sick, and'that the following is a gfull,

clear, and exact description of the principle or character which distinguishes it from all other things before known and of the manner of making, constructing, and usingthe' same, reference being had to the 'accompanying drawings, making part of this speciicatiomin whichf;u i

Fi ure l vis a side'elevation of the bedsteac a'partebeing shown in section; Fig. .2, a plan; and Fig. 3, a plan of the Ifranl- In gIhe same letters indicate like parts in all the figures. l

The nature of my'improvernents consists in the division and 'ointing 'ofthemattress, its combination Wit the bedstead, andthe apparatus for elevating a portion thereof, as hereafter described..

vThe bedstead (a) 'is ofcommon'construction -vvith across bar (b) (see Fig. 3) extending yfrom one side to the otheryfrom this bar to the head there is a rack (o) on each side rail and two frames (al) are also hinged beside eachother to the bar' and occupy the spacebet'ween itand the footv of the bedstead. Each of thesedvframe's has va rack upon it, and lthere is also a stationary V rack (e) below each, (as shown indotted lines), for the purpose vof elevating said iframes. An' elevating rod (f) attached to each side rail of the' bedsead on which slides a carriage (g) -to'which the mattress is jointed at it: center (L) thesaid mattress is boxed and; at the point (It) lis jointed being there. divided in VAthe box. The upper or head part (i is whole and the lower or foot part is divided longitudinally into' twov parts (70,70), an oblong recess (Z) being left near the point (7i). between them for-thev insertion of a bed pan (Z.).. Each of the two lower parts (lc) of the mattress are jointed in the center of their length as clearly showinV in Fig. 1. The upper and lower parts of this mattressv are vfurnished Wlth braces or pawls m) which take inte the racks above nan-ie `to"elevate the ditN ferent parts to degreef lis capable of putting the'patient in any po- V sition required for surgical or other' oper ations. It, is one of the mostperfect' aids in the operationsf'ofmid-Wifery; then-iatso as'to have the lower part hang over, and the patient can then be placed in a sitting or square block (n) which is Vconnected with, alever (o) that serves tov press up the mattress at the backof the patient which is found beneficial during'accouchement.

can be laid fiat ,and in diseases'o thelimbs' or bot-h at pleasure.

Fig. 1 shows the bed in sition for a change to a person who is bed ridden.

mattress either 'part o.which.'canbe elevated as that-has before been done; but

'Vhat I do claim as my, invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isf,-

1. So combining the mattress With-the bedstead as to be'slzid forward-toward the purpose described.

the mattress lungitudinalll7 :is-described Aso that 'either part can be elevated, andinoom' bination therewith these parts.

v3. Lastly,l I elevating the mattress to the back' as above se't forth. l

. J. H. LATOURANDAIS. Witnesses lGronau DENTHERAGE,

,MARK REED'.

When the bed is drawnl back, which'canI be done Without disturbing the atient, it-

or for other purposes either leg can be lifted Having thus described my-improved lied` stead for the sick, I Wish it to be underp stood that I do not 'claim making a jointed y f2. I also claim dividingthe lower art of I the. frames (a) below claim the presser (n) for A bedstead and mattress thus. .constructed .tress can be 'drawndown toward 'the foot'- posture when the vupperv part is eleva-ted gv In the bottom of'this part there is a presser 'a very easy po- .foot substantially? inthe manner and forthe'. 

